“Never leave them alone in a car. Always make sure to lock your car up and close your trunk, because some of the fatalities happen because kids themselves just get into a car and get locked in,” he said.

Tareka Wheeler, with the group SafeKids, said bystanders also play a role. If you happen to see a child alone in a car, she said “it’s so important that you take action and you call 911 immediately.”

Wheeler said parents need to remind themselves that a child is sitting in the back seat.

“Maybe they could put something on their calendar on their phone, or put their purse or briefcase or something in the back seat that they’re going to need at their final destination, just as a reminder,” Wheeler said.

Regine Schlesinger

Hi! My name’s Regine Schlesinger and if that rings a bell, it probably means you’ve been listening to WBBM for awhile. I joined Newsradio 780 back in 1973 just after I graduated from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. My first job...